Here’s What’s Happened to the Markets, Economy Since Bernanke’s Last Presser

By

Mark Gongloff

Jun 22, 2011 12:53 pm ET

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I’m sure you feel it, the expectant hush that has settled over the land as we await the words of Ben Bernanke, the man who holds the fate of the global economy in his hands.

That’s only half a joke, because the last time Mr. Bernanke gave a press conference, what followed was a global market meltdown.

OK, it’s entirely a joke, because the market meltdown really wasn’t his fault. There was some initial angst because he refused to deliver a promise of more sweet QE goodness. But the market selloff in subsequent weeks happened for a lot of other reasons, including Europe continuing to be on fire and everybody badly miscalculating just how much high oil prices and Japan’s many disasters would affect US economic growth.

Still, here’s a look back at what financial markets and the economy have done since Mr. Bernanke last spoke, which may color what he has to say today:

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